Folding booth



2 Sheets-Sheet 1v 0. ENGERT.

FOLDING BOOTH (No Model.)

' No. 561,703. Patented June 9, 1896 MH.H1OI0-UDIO.WASHINGTON.GC'

2 SheetsSheet 2. 0. BNGERT. FOLDING BOOTH.

(No Model.)

No. 561,703. Patented June 9, 1896.

7 gvwemto'c Gi /M Mime e0 -fi LM 84101414013 ma UNITED STATES CHARLES ENGERT, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FOLDING BOOTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,703, dated June 9, 1896.

Application filed February 29, 1896. fierial No. 681,241. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, CHARLES ENGERT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Booths, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding booths--such, for example, as election-booths.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved folding booth which can be erected for use very easily and rapidly and can be folded very compactly for storage or transportation.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the frame of my improved folding booth erected. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view through the same, parts being in elevation and others broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same parts being broken away. Fig. 4; is a plan view of a modified construction of the central hinge-piece. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. dis an enlarged detail side view of parts and a section through the desk on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 isa horizontal sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the entire frame folded for transportation or storage.

The four standards A are each provided with a metal shoe B, each having an apertured side lug B, through which a screw 13 can be screwed into the floor to hold the standard and to 11 old the booth-frame in place.

Each standard A is provided at its upper end with a cap 0, having two upwardly-extending wings G, provided with apertures, which wings are connected at their backs by cross-pieces 0 Four top bars D have their inner ends between lugs of a center piece D or D, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively, and their outer ends are pivoted between the wings G on a standard in advance of the corresponding cross-piece C so that when the said top bars are in horizontal position they rest on the upper edges of said cross-pieces. These cross-pieces thus prevent moving the center piece 1) or D downward any farther than to bring the top bars in horizontal position and thus prevent collapsing of the top part of the frame. Hooks E, from which a canvas covering for the frame can be hung, project from the outer ends of said top bars.

At the front the standards A are connected at the top by a hinged brace F, and at the two sides and rear they are connected at the bottom by a like brace F. Each brace F is proved at its hinged end with a metal clip G, having a curved finger H that engages a pin ll, projecting from the standard, to which the brace is pivoted by a pivot-screw G, passing through the clip. hen the brace is in lowered position, the top edge of the curved finger rests against the pin H.

hen the brace F is not in use, it is swung up to rest against the side of the standard to which it is hinged and a metal plate J atextending beyond said free end passes under an L-shaped spring-metal clip K, attached to the standard and having a projection K for engaging said plate J.

The plate J is provided in the bottom edge of its projecting part with two notches a. b, of which the former serves for receiving a stud L, projectingfroin the sta11dard,on which the free end of the brace F is to beheld when lowered, and the notch Z) serves for receiving the projecting end of a bolt M in the same standard, on the end of which belt a winged nut N is screwed, by means of which the plate J can be clamped securely on said standard. A brace-rod O is hinged to each standard A above the pivotal connection between the standard and brace, and the free hook end of the brace-rod can be passed into a transverse aperture d in the brace f when the latter is in lowered condition.

An additional brace F, mounted and pivoted like those described, connects the two rear standards A when in lowered position, as shown in Fig. 1, and to the same the rear edge of the desk-board R is permanently fastoned.

Two brace-rods S are hinged to the under side of the desk-board R- near the front edge of the same, and the free hook ends S of said tached to its inner surface at the free end and 1 brace-rods can be passed into apertures g in the" standards A when the desk is adjusted for use.

A strap T is fastened to the top and one to the bottom of one standard A and serves for holding the parts together when folded;

hen the frame is erected for use, as shown in Fig. .1, it is stiffened at the top by the top bars D and top brace F, at the center by the desk-board brace F, and at the bottom by the braces F.

When the frame is to be folded, the holdin g-screws B are first removed, then the brace-rods O are disengaged from the braces F, the braces F are swung up against the standards A until the end plates J are engaged and held bythe clips K, the brace-rods S are disengaged from the standards A and folded against the under side of the desk-board R, against which they are held by the clips U, and then the desk-brace F swung up against the standard A,'to which it is hinged, the plate J of said brace F being also held by its clip K, and then the center piece D is moved upward, whereby the several standards are brought together, as shown in Fig. 7, and are then heldtogether by the straps T.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y 1. In a folding booth, the combination with standards, of hinged top bars, braces, clips secured to the braces and pivoted to the standards, curved fingers on said clips, pins on the standards, which pins are engaged by said curved fingers, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a folding booth, the combination with standards of hinged top bars, braces hinged to the standards, a plate secured to the side of each brace at the swinging end and extending beyond the same and provided with two notches, apin on that standard to which the free end of the brace is to be held, a bolt on said standard adjacent to the pin and a nut on said bolt,substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a folding booth, the combination with standards, of braces hinged to the standards, plates on the free ends of the braces, for holding said free ends to the standards and L- shaped spring-clips on the standards, which clips have projections for engaging said plates and holding the braces folded lengthwise on the standards substantially as herein shown and described.

4. In a folding booth, the combination with standards, of a cap on each standard, two wings projecting upward from each cap, a cross-piece connecting the rear edges of the wings and of less height than the wings, top bars having their front ends pivoted between the said wings and a center piece to which the inner ends of the top bars are pivoted, substantially asherein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 24th day of J anuary, 1896. a

. CHARLES ENGERT.

\Vitnesses N. M. FLANNERY, OSCAR F. GUNZ. 

